A ban is not the solution

March 28, 2008

Dear Sir,

As a frequent visitor to Bermuda I have rented a scooter on three occasions and it is my opinion that renting scooters to tourists is not the main issue to be concerned with. The main issues of concern should be: unsafe driving conditions due mainly to the inconsiderate, unsafe and unlawful driving habits of other drivers; and (from my own rental experience I would have to say) lack of driver training.

I would like to relate my rental experiences to prove the second point. The first time I rented a scooter in 1996, from Smatt's, I requested the scooter be delivered to my hotel. When it arrived the gentleman that delivered it took it to nearby Astwood Park, showed me the following: how to kick-start the cycle; the clutch; the gas; the brakes; and how to lock it up. He then recommended I ride it the length of Astwood Park's entrance lane and back. He said I was fine, wished me well and off he went.

The next few days were spent wasting hours trying kick-start this machine with the assistance of many kind Bermudians who also had no success and the uneasy feeling that this machine would never make it up some of Bermuda's steeper hills. One phone call to Smatt's resulted in them delivering me an electric start scooter that was perfectly suitable for my needs. It was easy to start, easy to handle, had just enough power that I had no doubt it would get me up the steepest hill and was the proper size for my short stature. I had this scooter for a week and thoroughly enjoyed it.

My second experience several years later saw the Oleander rental agent verify that I had previous experience, gave me a thorough lesson on how to attach the locking mechanism and lock up the helmet (this apparently was of more concern than anything else). I was told that I could go to any Oleander office if I needed assistance, sent to the nearby church parking lot on my own to practise.

Before setting off I mentioned to the agent that I had some concern about the size of the scooter. Because I am only five feet tall, the scooter was a bit bigger than I would have liked. It was a bit of a stretch for my feet (really only my toes) to reach the ground when stopped. I was told they had nothing smaller. A short time later I noticed the fuel gauge and speedometer were not functioning. I stopped at Oleander's next location to seek assistance but it was closed. I stopped at the Dockyard office as well, but it too was closed. Since I only had the scooter for two days and was with a Bermudian friend who drove her own scooter ahead of me, I was not overly concerned. I kept the fuel tank topped up and drove a speed I was sure was within legal limits.

When I returned the scooter, I mentioned to the office attendant that the fuel gauge and speedometer rarely worked. Her response was to snap at me and tell me: "Well they must have been all right when you left because the girl would have checked that." There was no mention that a mechanic would inspect and rectify this before it was rented again.

My next experience was a one-day rental from Oleander on the South Road. The gentleman again ascertained that I had previous experience on a rental scooter and asked me to ride up to the top of the hill on the side road and back; showed me the locking mechanism and that was it. This scooter had a serious flaw in the fuel injection. When attempting to go from 'stop' to 'start' it would sometimes take off like a shot and other times it would stubbornly remain stationary for several attempts. It was challenging when in high traffic situations and you didn't know how the scooter was going to perform.

All in all, I don't think the 'trainers' in any of my interactions gave me appropriate off-road training. I would be very interested to have answers to the following questions.

What type of training do rental agents receive?

Is the training provided by the employer or a qualified independent organisation?

Is there a certification process?

How often are they required to retest or retrain?

What controls are in place to assure proper training is taking place?

What inspection system is used to ensure proper maintenance of rental equipment?

As customers renting a scooter we have to be responsible to ask as many questions as we need in order to have as much preparedness as possible. Drive carefully and slowly. Do not let the 'speed demons' on the road make you feel as though you are holding them back, just allow them the opportunity to pass you when it is appropriate.

In addition, if you know you are going to travel to destinations where scooter rental is your preferred mode of transportation, be pro-active and take a complete motorcycle training course at home. This type of training will be more thorough and your comfort level will be increased so that you can enjoy the vacation scooter rental experience more fully.

Despite the challenges, I enjoyed renting and driving a scooter and will most certainly do this again. For visitors who have concerns with this mode of transportation I would highly recommend you use Bermuda Public Transportation. The bus and ferry system is convenient, efficient, clean and safe.

For residents of Bermuda, I would suggest that the statistics of traffic accidents not involving tourists should evoke as strong a reaction as the most recent tragic event involving a visitor to the island. I will be interested to hear the results of the police investigation regarding the death of Ms. Hoopes, but regardless of the findings banning scooter rentals to visitors is not the solution.

I extend my deepest sympathy to the Hoopes family and my admiration to the people of Bermuda for their compassion to this family in their time of need.

JENNETTE RICHES

St. Catharines, Ontario

There are options

March 30, 2008

Dear Sir,

Several years ago my husband and I visited Bermuda, and were quite pleased and happy with our experience. We opted for the combination ferry-bus pass to get around the areas. It was relaxing to sit after much walking around. We got to see and talk to many people we may not have otherwise seen. It should be promoted much more as a safe alternative for all to get around the parishes. Taxis are another safe option.

Officially, road speed limits are 25 mph. The reality is that many people drive much faster on many stretches of roads. This may contribute to tourists and locals alike feeling that their bikes or scooters are safe on the roads. These accidents are tragic, As a parent and grandparent, I ask why are scooter operators not regulated like motorbikes and cars.? Scooter vendors, lack of government regulation, and the parents all played a role in this terrible accident.

Five or ten minutes to learn how to ride a scooter in a foreign country is silly and dangerous. Especially when you are driving on the opposite side of the road, the lanes are narrow, and the roads have many blind curves and the traffic can be quite congested at times. This is not for beginners. What are the rules for scooters? Did they have helmets on? Did the vendor know the children would be riding? Local Bermudians have familiarity with the roads, traffic patterns, landmarks, etc. Tourists do not. I spent four years in England, it took quite awhile to mentally "adjust " to seeing the traffic from the opposite side of the road.

Bermudians need to work on improvements to road and traffic issues for everyone's safety, not just tourists. Preserving what makes Bermuda special keeps tourists coming back. We observed fast riders on motor cycles and scooters on the road almost every evening as we walked around. Fortunately, you all have the basic building blocks in place, years ahead of many US communities, just need to work on some weaknesses. Sincerely, (and looking forward to a future visit)

CATHY GRAY

Chapel Hill, N.C.